‘My door is always open’ – Zwakele

Published Apr 29, 2015

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CANDICE SOOBRAMONEY

THE DA is set to woo more Indian and African voters in the run-up to the local government elections next year.

This is according to the DA’s newly elected KwaZulu-Natal leader, Zwakele Mncwango.

He also wants to tap into the crucial youth market.

“Our footprint in Indian areas like Chatsworth and Phoenix is strong, so we must now work to sustain our support there, while at the same time attract young people to the party. That’s how we can grow in the province,” Mncwango told POST on Monday.

“In the ANC only one race is being catered for. We are the only party that talks of a multi-racial community. We are fighting for everyone. If the DA comes into power, everyone will feel at home and will be catered for. There will be no classification for jobs based on race. People will get jobs based on merit,” he said.

Mncwango added that despite defeating his opponent, Sizwe Mchunu, for the highly contested post by seven votes at the provincial congress in Richards Bay on Saturday, they had put the competition behind them for the good of the party and community.

“Today (Monday), we had a special meeting with the leadership and I made it clear to them that I am not the winner. The DA is the winner. Some may not have supported me during the provincial congress but now we are one team.

“I have the co-operation of everyone and there is no resistance. This shows the difference that exists between the DA and the ANC,” he said. “We can come out of an event and there is no bickering or infighting.”

When told that many voters generally felt disillusioned with underperforming councillors, Mncwango said he was aware of this.

“If you feel your councillor is underperforming then I am encouraging communities to bring their complaints to my office,” he said.

“I have an open door policy. If you have a complaint, my door is always open.”

He continued: “We generally do assessments of councillors once every six months where key performance areas are looked into.

“If they cannot make it over 60 percent, we see if we can assist that councillor to develop himself or herself, but if the problem persists then that person does not qualify to be a councillor.”

Mncwango said that to be more visible and make differences in the lives of residents, they would start more fund-raising projects and find new donors to increase service delivery in areas.

He said he expected people to be critical of him: “I need to be criticised to know where I am going wrong. My way of thinking is not set in stone. I want varying opinions. That’s the only way the DA can grow and lead effectively.”

The deputy provincial leader is Mergan Chetty, provincial chairman Hanniff Hoosen, first deputy chair Tex Collins, the second deputy chair Dianne Kohler Barnard and the third deputy chair Shehana Gaibie.

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